The Federal Reserve announced in an Aug. 21 court hearing it will defend its current debit interchange rule before an appeals court. And in a twist, the Fed also said it will join forces with its opponents to seek a speedy appeal decision.

Since U.S. District Judge Richard Leon issued his shocking decision on July 31 that called for even more draconian price controls under Dodd-Frank’s Durbin Amendment, some legal commentators have given him the benefit of the doubt.

An irate judge threw the Federal Reserve another curve ball during an Aug. 14 hearing when he gave the regulator until Aug. 21 to persuade the court why its 21-cent interchange debit cap should not end.